Humbucker (NZ) Takes Timaru Cup

Karaka graduate Humbucker (NZ) (Iffraaj) capped a consistent form line with a richly deserved first black-type win in Wednesday’s $65,000 Listed Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m).

Bought for $47,500 from Brighthill Farm’s draft in Book 2 of Karaka 2018, Humbucker has now earned $142,820 from a 27-start career that has produced four wins, eight seconds and six thirds.

The under-rated six-year-old arrived at Timaru with impeccable form to his name, having placed in six of his last seven appearances. His only time outside the top three during that time was a close fourth in one of the South Island’s richest races, the $250,000 Group Three Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9.

Humbucker had been unlucky in his late-finishing third in his most recent race at Gore on December 18, and this time he got the result he deserved. Rider Kylie Williams had him handily placed in fourth before going for the accelerator at the top of the straight, driving him past Monza Circuito (NZ) (Showcasing) and The Buffer (NZ) (Reliable Man) to win by a length and a half.

Wednesday’s win was a clear highlight of Humbucker’s 16 starts from the Gore stable of Ellis Winsloe. The gelding began his career in the north, where he was a maiden winner at Ellerslie and finished second in another four races, including behind top-class mare Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock).

“He’s a super horse,” Winsloe told NZ Racing Desk. “He’s a big, headstrong lad and can be quite a hard horse to handle. The change of environment has suited him and he hasn’t put a foot wrong for me. He’s been something special, even with his wee quirks.

“I got him for Alison Hazlett, and she wanted something ready to go to the races. The other owners in the syndicate are mates of hers. The Hazlett’s are a great racing family and have been with me all the way through.

“Now we’re definitely looking at going up to Trentham for the Thorndon Mile (Group One, 1600m, January 28). At this stage I don’t think he will need another run, but I’ll get him home and see how he is.”

Humbucker was bred by Bruce Sheat and Cheryl Wilson, who won this race in 2018 with their well-performed homebred Boots ‘N’ All (NZ) (Perfectly Ready), who was passed in at the 2014 South Island Sale. The pair also achieved black-type success with Boots ‘N’ All’s half-brother Air Max (NZ) (Nadeem), who was passed in at the 2017 South Island Sale and won the Listed Gore Guineas (1355m) and Dunedin Guineas (1500m).